John B. “Ben” Kinney, 89, of Gouverneur

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Gouverneur - John B. “Ben” Kinney, age 89, of Gouverneur, passed away on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at his home under the loving care of his family and St. Lawrence Valley Hospice.

Calling hours will be on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur. His funeral service will be on Wednesday, November 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Beth Benham and Lay Speaker Birney Kellogg of the North Gouverneur Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Hailesboro Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.

Ben was born on September 20, 1923 in Sullivan, NY to the late Lindon Otis and Marjorie Bell (Nichols) Kinney. He attended school in Cazenovia. He married Edna A. Blanchard on September 27, 1944 at Edna’s parent’s home with Rev. Harold Thomas officiating.

When Ben was 17 he went to work on a farm. He also mucked onions in the onion fields in Cazenovia. Over the years he worked several jobs, such as Gouverneur Talc, Rubars Ice Co., Oswegatchie Light and Power Co., John Deere Co. and the Gouverneur Co-op and Installed Barn Cleaners in many area barns. In 1958 he and his wife Edna, bought her parent’s farm on Rock Island Road. Ben also went to work as a rural mail carrier for the Gouverneur Post Office. He worked there for 13 years, retiring in 1991.

Ben was a member of the Odd Fellows; the Grange; North Gouverneur Methodist Church and was a 4-H Leader. He enjoyed traveling and traveled across the country and even traveled in Europe and went to Germany and Paris. He also enjoyed reading, wood working, puttering in his garage, helping his neighbors, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and yatzee, playing music and dancing and spending time with his family and friends.

Ben is survived by his wife Edna of 68 years; a son and daughter-in-law, Earl L. and Connie Kinney of Gouverneur; a daughter, Diane E. Kelley of Gouverneur; a brother and sister-in-law, Linden O. and Nancy Kinney of Chase Mills; a sister-in-law, Ethel Kinney of Star Lake; seven granddaughters, Lisa Foster, Tammy Simmons, Amy Bush, Cathy Schiszler, Mellissa Adams, Sarah Dowling and Amber Kelley; 19 great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by his parents; son, Gregory J. Kinney, who passed away in 2003; a son-in-law, Lindon Kelley Jr., who passed away in 1982; a brother, George R. Kinney; and two sisters, Agnes M. Reed and Leora H. Hodge.

Donations may be made in Ben’s memory to the North Gouverneur Methodist Church, Gouverneur Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 164, Gouverneur, NY 13642, or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Hwy. 11, Potsdam, NY 13676.